Sultan Ibragimov retired?

By Alexey Potapov

Former WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov (22-1-1, 17 KOs) seems to have hung up his gloves. Following his February 2008 unification loss to reigning IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko, Sultan returned to Russia and has stayed there alleging that his is still due some money. “I think Ibragimov retired,” said Seminole Warriors Boxing executive director Leon Margules, who co-promoted Ibragimov along with Golden Grain Promotions. “I have not spoken to him for one year. If any money is owed Sultan, it is Romazan (Abacharaev) or someone else in Russia that owes the money. If anything, [Sultan] owes Boris [Grinberg] money because he never paid his management fees to Boris from the Holyfield or Klitschko fights. There is nothing pending in court that prevents Sultan from fighting and certainly any money disputes have not prevented him from fighting. I don’t think he wants to fight again and I think he is making excuses. I have not talked with Jeff [Mayweather, Sultan’s trainer] because there is no reason to. Sultan never paid him but Boris did from his own pocket, also money Sultan owes,” concluded Margules. The Ibragimov camp is staying tight-lipped about any future plans. In September 2008, Sultan’s father who did not want his son to continue his boxing career, passed away. Ibragimov and its manager Gamzat Agaev have declined to comment.